What is a Pregnancy Pillow?

Though the name may sound rather self-explanatory, there is much more to it than just a pillow made for pregnant women. This pillow has been specially designed to suit the needs of expectant mothers and their changing bodies. Most often, these pillows are used during the later months of pregnancy. This is when most pregnant women experience the difficulty getting comfortable while lying down and sitting. Pregnancy pillows provide a number of benefits for expecting mothers which include relieving tension and muscle soreness. They are available in a variety of different shapes, styles, and price points.

The Benefits of a Pregnancy Pillow

There are a surprising number of advantages to using a maternity pillow. We will go through a few of the most important benefits below.

Provides Belly Support: Pregnancy pillows are designed to provide the proper support for expectant mothers. Doctors generally suggest pregnant women sleep on their side in a half-fetal position. With a pillow, your stomach will be supported, as well as your neck, back, hips, and legs.

Relieves Aches and Cramps: Most women experience some sort of pain and discomfort while they are pregnant, oftentimes in the back. Pregnancy pillows help to ease blood circulation, which relieves some of the muscle tension. These pillows also provide much needed support that can eliminate aches and cramps altogether.

Get a Better Night’s Sleep: Since these pillows provide such great muscle and stress relief, you will be achieving more restful and longer rest in no time. Additionally, the more relaxed you are, the healthier and happier you will be when the big day arrives. [Read – Best sleeping positions in pregnancy]

Useful Post-Pregnancy Too: When breastfeeding, your pregnancy pillow can make your life a lot easier. Your pillow can help you position your baby properly for breastfeeding. This will help him or her to learn how to latch correctly.

What to Look for When Choosing a Pillow

Price

The price of the pillow is usually dependent on the size and the material the pillow is made of. They can range anywhere for $15 to over $100. Price is also usually a good indicator of the quality. The more expensive a pillow, the better quality it will be.

Size

Pillows come in a variety of sizes. The perfect size for you will be determined by your height, body type, and the amount of support you are looking for. You will also need to consider the size of the pillow in relation to the size of your bed. Remember, a bigger pillow means your partner may end up sleeping on the floor.

Removable Cover

A removable cover is a nice feature to have. It makes cleaning a breeze and allows you to sleep in a hygienic environment.

Filling

There are a few different types of filling that can be found inside pregnancy pillows. Some of the most common fillings are Styrofoam balls, memory foam, micro-beads, polyester fiber, and various organic fillings. Each one comes with its advantages and drawbacks, though in general, you should look for a pillow with a polyester fiber filling.

Hypoallergenic

Because of all the changes your body is going through, you can actually become more sensitive to things like synthetic fibers and other materials. You may want to look for a hypoallergenic or organic pillow. This will greatly reduce the risk of waking up with an allergy attack.

What are the Different Types of Pregnancy Pillow?

Wedge Pillow

The wedge pillow is the smallest and cheapest of all the pregnancy pillows. It is often shaped like a wedge and can easily be used to provide support where it is needed most, the back and stomach. They are also extra useful as they can be used after pregnancy as well. You can use a wedge pillow by sliding it under your stomach for support, behind your back to ensure you remain on your side, and under your regular pillow to provide extra support.

Full Length Pillow

Full length maternity pillows span the full length of your body. They are straight, but they can usually be curved and bent to meet your needs. In general, these pillows do not provide as much back support as other pregnancy pillows. They are meant to be hugged and cuddled all night long with your arms and legs wrapped around it and your belly resting atop.

Total Body Pillow

Total body pillows are made to wrap around your entire body. They provide a ton of support for both your front and your back, but they also take up a lot of space on your bed. There are a few different shapes of the total body pillow.

C Shaped Body Pillow: As you may have guessed, C shaped body pillows are in the shape of the letter C. This pillow is meant to be used in a riding position with the bottom of the C in between your legs and the top of the C underneath your head. Your back should be resting against the curve of the spine.

U Shaped Body Pillow: These body pillows are in the shape of the letter U. This pregnancy pillow is also designed to be straddled with your head resting on the bottom of the U. You can face either direction in this type of pillow as they are both designed to provide support.

How To Use a Pregnancy Pillow

Trust me, it’s a lot more complex than it sounds. Unfortunately, you can’t just flop on top of it.

The top of the pillow wraps around your neck to ensure the highest amount of neck and spine support, especially for sore necks and shoulders.

The middle of the pillow wedges under your stomach to keep your muscles aligned and off the weight of your little one. The bottom of the pillow is placed between your legs to help alleviate joint pain and reduce pain on your swollen feet and ankles.

Finally, the back of the pillow wraps around your back to help support and reduce any pain that is currently residing there. Most pillows have a contouring shape to them which makes the process of getting into position a whole lot easier.

Best Pregnancy Pillow Reviews

If you’re looking for a full array of comfort, the Comfort U Total Body Support pillow might just be for you. Made from a soft cotton material, it will never flatten or clump. You will be left feeling refreshed with a full night of sleep. The pillow is specially designed to help align your body for total relief while still allowing your to nurse and watch TV at your leisure. Filled with a fusion foss, the pillow also won’t track moisture while you lounge. [Read Full Review]

Created by a mom and registered nurse, you know right off the bat you are getting a well designed pregnancy pillow. The Leachco Snoogle Total Body pillow offers support to your stomach, back, hips, and neck to alleviate pain and offer a more comfortable night of sleep with the help of the traditional mattress. Don’t worry about and sleeping drool either, the cover is 100% machine washable! [Read Full Review]

If you need extended back support, I highly suggest this pillow. Offering a great deal of support to your back and stomach, it has plenty of filling to support mothers who are months into their pregnancies. It also sports a built-in shoulder comfort system. The pillow will conform to your back and offer you hours of comfort filled sleep. It also comes in a variety of colors to match your bedroom. [Read Full Review]

If you’re looking for a longer shaped pillow to help support your stomach and back, this pillow is specially made for you. With comfortable support, it keeps you from tossing and turning which results in a much better night’s sleep. It also can help align joints when sleeping to create a more pain free lounge cushion. Not to mention, it’s low price and appealing colors makes it a must buy for any person dealing with joint pain or pregnancies. [Read Full Review]

Pros:

Comes in two appealing colors

Provides a great deal of back and stomach support

Relatively inexpensive

Cons:

Uncomfortable seam placement

Conclusion

And the winner is…the Leachco Back ‘N Belly Contoured Body Pillow!

With its affordable pricing and total comfort under your stomach and around your back it offers the best possible night’s sleep.

Its hourglass figure keeps any new mother from tossing and turning which leads to unbearable restless sleep. Not to mention, it’s also great for people with joint pain or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Copyright text 2017 by Pregnancy Pillows.
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